Dressing device

ABSTRACT

A dressing device for dressing the peripheral surface of a grinding wheel mounted within a grinding machine comprising a compensating ram and profile ram coaxially aligned with each other within a main body which is fixedly mounted upon a traverse table. The compensating ram is adjustably movable by means of a compensating device mounted upon the profile ram and the profile ram is slidably movable toward the grinding wheel by an actuator mounted within the main body. Therefore, the rigidity of the dressing device is increased so as to thereby obtain better dressing performance and accuracy.

United States Patent Ota Oct. 15, 1974 DRESSING DEVICE 2,851,827 9/1958 Hill 125/11 PH x Inventor: Hiroshi y J p 3,079,907 3/1963 Pnce 125/11 TP [73] Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Kariya-shi, Aichi-ken,.lapan Assistant ExaminerMarc B Davidson Attorney, Agent, or FirmOblon, Fisher, Spivuk. [22] F1led. Jan. 16, 1973 Mcclenand & Maier [21] Appl. No: 324,127

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A dressing device for dressing the peripheral surface Jan. 18, 1972 Japan 47-8337 of a grinding Wheel mounted ithin a grindin machine comprising :1 compensating ram and profile ram 52] us. c1 125/11 PH, 5l/l65.87 coaxially aligned with each other Whhi" main body 51 1111. C1 B241) 53/08 which is fixedly mOunted P a traverse table- The [58 Field of Search 125/11 R, 11 TP, 11 PH, compehsatihgvram s adjustably movable by means of 125 /11 51/16587 a compensating device mounted upon the profile ram and the profile ram is slidably movable toward the 5 References Cited I grinding wheel by an actuator mounted within the I UNITED STATES PATENTS main body. Therefore, the rigidity of the dressing de- -5 6 8 95 H 2 H vice is increased so as to thereby obtain better dress- 2,722,22 L955 1 5/11 P mg performance and accuracy 2,838,040 6/1958 Balsiger 125/11 PH 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 9 45 36b 44a 40 34a 370. 3;) 3 5 36\/; 4K2 422 35 4518 7911))? 2? 4 4/ 49 rmmuu 111111111111111111111111 I unnmuunmn111mm y DRESSING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a dressing device, and more particularly to an improved dressing device for dressing the outer periphery of a grinding wheel mounted within a grinding machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art According to the various dressing devices utilized heretofore, a main body is usually fixedly mounted upon a slidablemember which is, in turn, slidably guided upon a supporting base which is fixedly mounted upon a traverse table. Furthermore, a compensating ram having a single point diamond dresser is slidably received within the main body in orderto preset an initial starting position for the dressing operation, and the main body may be moved toward the grinding wheel by means of the movement of the slidable member relative to the supporting base.

Therefore, the distance between the upper surface of the traverse table and the axis of the compensating ram has been quite large and it has been extremely difficult to positively securethe supporting base to the traverse table. These conditions are particularly apparent in the case of a grinding machine for grinding a workpiece having a series of portions to be ground, wherein a plurality of dressing devices therefore have been arranged in a row upon the traverse table with predetermined intervals therebetween.

Consequently, the dressing devices conventionally available have resulted in dressing operations exhibit ing very poor quality and a relatively high degree of inaccuracy since such dressing devices cause the production of the phenomenon of chattering and also cannot maintain an established position of the dressing device. That is, the dressing device is not able to be positioned in a stable condition at a required, predetermined position thereof, particularly when dressing operations upon a plurality of grinding wheels are to be performed at the same time.

Still further, the aforementioned effects influence all the dressing devices upon the traverse table, and consequently, it is impossible to satisfactorily perform dressing operations having the desired high degree of accuracy, and thus the diameter of the workpiece is not always dressed by an amount within the range of acceptable operational tolerances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dressing device for dressing agrinding wheel whereby its diameter is accurately dressed by an amount within the range of acceptable operational tolerances.

Another object of the present inventionis to provide a dressing device which is provided with a profile ram and a compensating ram coaxially disposed therein.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dressing device wherein the distance between the upper surface of the traverse table and the axis of the compensating ram is relatively short so as to thereby increase the rigidity and stability thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a dressing device for positively retaining an operational position thereof whereby the dressing operation may be performed with increased efficiency.

The foregoing and other objects are attained according to the present invention which is embodied within a dressing device for a grinding wheel mounted within a grinding machine wherein the compensating ram is arranged in coaxial alignment with the profile ram, thereby preferably securing the main body to the traverse table in a proper preset position thereof. Moreover, the compensating ram and profile ram are respectively operably connected with a compensating means and an actuating means so as to adjust the position of the dressing tool and feed the same toward the grinding wheel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, a supporting base 1 is mounted upon a wheel slide, not shown, and a guide member 2, which is fixedly mounted upon the supporting base 1, has a longitudinal guide surface 2a thereon which extends perpendicularly to the axis of a grinding wheel 17 which is also rotatably mounted upon the wheel slide, not shown. A feeding table 3 is slidably movable along the guide surface 2a of the guide member 2 toward and away from the grinding wheel 17 and a dovetail groove 3a is formed therein in a longitudinal direction which extends parallel to the axis of the grinding wheel 17. Firmly keyed to the lower surface of the feeding table 3 is a feed nut 4 with which a feed screw 5 is threadably engaged. The feed screw 5 is operably connected to a table feeding device, not shown, which is provided for rotating screw 5 a predetermined amount through a ratchet feeding mechanism, for example, which may be installed at the rear side of the supporting base 1. v

A traverse table 32, which is provided with a projection 32a at the lower portion thereof, is associated with the feeding table 3, portion 32a being in complementary engagement with the dovetail groove 3a, and may be slidably traversed in a direction extending parallel to the axis of the grinding wheel 17 by means of an actua- 'tor, not shown. Further, T-shaped grooves 32b are formed upon the upper portion of the traverse table 32. Fixedly attached to the feeding table 3 is a place member 56 upon which a sustaining member 55 is mounted equipped with a template 54 having a profile face 54a thereon corresponding to the profile required upon the outer periphery of the grinding wheel 17.

A main body 34 of a dressing device generally indicated by the reference character 25 is provided with an axially extending bore 34a and a cylindrical bore 34b which is arranged in parallel with the bore 34a. The main body 34 is fixedly mounted upon the traverse table 32 by means of bolts 35 which extend therethrough for threaded engagement with T-shaped nuts 33 disposed within the T-shaped grooves 32b, thereby positively securing the main body to the traverse table. A compensating ram 36 and a profile ram 37 are tandem disposed within a bushing 29 which is fitted within the bore 34a and are sustained by stroke bearings 38 and 39, and 40 and 41, respectively. Thus, it is readily apparent that the distance between the upper surface of the traverse table and the axis of the compensating ram is relatively short, and therefore, the rigidity of the dressing device is substantially increased.

The compensating ram 36 is provided with a cylindrical bore 36b, at the right end portion thereof, within which a bushing 44 and a nut 45, having threadable portions 44a and 45a, respectively, are positively received in coaxial alignment therewith. A diamond holder 46 having a single point diamond dresser 47 is fixedly mounted upon the compensating ram 36 at the left end portion thereof. A detent pin 42, having an engaging portion 42a and which is fixed within the main body 34, is lockingly engaged with a key-way 36a which is machined upon the compensating ram 36 within a plane extending through the axis of ram 36, thereby preventing rotational movement thereof relative to body 34.

Axially provided within the profile ram 37 is a bore 37a within which a rotating shaft 43 is rotatably supported through anti-friction bearings 48 and 49. A feed screw 43a is integrally formed upon the rotating shaft 43 at the left end portion thereof and is threadably engaged with respective threadable portions 44a and 45a of the bushing 44 and nut 45. A shaft 43b extends from the right end portion of the rotating shaft 43 and is securingly supported within a supporting member 57 to which a worm wheel 58 is secured by means of a key 59, a connecting member 60, and another key 63. The supporting member 57 is disposed within a cylindrical bore 68a provided within a main body 68 of a compensating device, generally indicated by the reference character 27, which is fixedly attached to the right side of the profile ram 37 which provides the compensating ram with a feed movement therefor toward the grinding wheel 17. Within the upper portion of main body 68, a drive shaft 66 is rotatably journaled within a bearing 67, and a worm 66a integrally formed with shaft 66 meshes with the worm wheel 58.

Extending laterally from the right end of the profile ram 37 is a flange portion 37b in which axially extending bores 37c and 37d are arranged in parallel relation with each other. One end 51a of a connecting rod l,-

which extends from a piston 50 slidably mounted within the cylinder bore 34b in the main body 34, is secured to the flange portion 37b through a bushing 52 mounted within the bore 37c. A stylus 53 is fixedly mounted upon the flange portion 37b, being received within the bore 37d and contacting the profile face 54a of the template 54 when the profile ram 37 is advanced toward the grinding wheel 17.

The operation of the dressing device constructed according to the present invention will now be described, the dressing device being capable of performing dressing operations within a grinding machine so as to grind the crankpins or journal portions of a crankshaft. Therefore, a plurality of grinding wheels 17 are respectively confronted with a series of dressing devices which are operatively mounted upon the traverse table 32.

initially, before the outer periphery of the grinding wheel 17 is dressed, the position of each of the single point diamond dressers 47 must be adjusted in accordance with the diameters of the portions of the workpiece to be ground. Thus, the amount of adjustment varies for the respective dressing device. That is, when a knob 69 within the compensating device 27 or other preferable actuating device, not shown, is manipulated to rotate the drive shaft 66 and the worm 6611, the rotational motion thereof is transmitted to the rotating shaft 43 through the worm wheel 58 and the supporting member 57, and through the key 59, the connecting member 60, and the key 63.

Therefore, the compensating ram 36, in which the bushing 44 and nut 45 are engageable with the feed screw 43a, is accordingly moved longitudinally toward the grinding wheel 17 with the aid of the compensating device 27 which compensates for the position of the diamond dresser 47, and thus, the compensating operation for commencing the dressing operation is completely performed.

After the position of the diamond dresser 47 with respect to the grinding wheel 17 has been determined and attained, fluid under pressure is supplied into the right portion of the piston chamber 30 of the cylindrical bore 34b from a pressurized fluid source, not shown, so as to slidably move the piston toward the left as seen in the FIGURE. In accordance with this slidable movement of the piston 50, the profile ram 37, which is movable in connection with connecting rod 51 mounted upon the piston 50, is therefore slidably moved in a longitudinal direction, along with the compensating ram 36, toward the grinding wheel 17 through the stroke bearings 38, 39, 40 and 41. Also, the stylus 53, which is fixedly secured upon the lower end of the flange portion 37b contacts the profile face 54a of the template 54 at an upper portion thereof.

Subsequently, traverse table 32 is moved in a traverse direction along the outer periphery of the grinding wheel 17 by the actuator not shown, whereby the pe ripheral surface of the grinding wheel 17 is dressed by means of the diamond dresser 47' duplicating the profile face 54a of the template 54, without the occurrence of the chattering phenomenon within the main body 34.

When the dressing operation of the grinding wheel 17 is completed, the dressing device 25 is restored or retracted to the original position thereof, that is, it is released from co-operation with the grinding wheel. In addition, in preparation for the following required dressing operation, the feeding table 3 is advanced by a predetermined amount by rotation of the feed screw 5 so as to thereby feed the diamond dresser 47 toward the ginding wheel before the dressing operation is started.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is to be understood, therefore, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

1 claim:

1. A device for dressing a peripheral surface of a grinding wheel mounted upon a grinding machine, comprising:

a supporting base;

a feeding table slidably mounted upon said supporting base so as to be movable toward and away from said grinding wheel by means of a table feeding device;

a template member fixedly mounted on said feeding table and having a profile face thereon;

a traverse table slidably movable upon said feeding table by suitable drive means in a direction parallel to the axis of said grinding wheel;

a main body fixedly mounted upon said traverse table;

a compensating ram means slidably mounted within said main body and provided with a dressing tool for dressing the outer periphery of said grinding wheel;

a profile ram means slidably disposed in tandem relationship to said compensating ram means within said main body;

a stylus fixedly attached to one end of said profile ram for engageable co-operation with said template member;

actuating means provided within said main body and integrally associated with said profile ram means for moving said profile ram means together with said compensating ram means toward said grinding wheel to thereby urge said stylus to contact said template member; and

feeding means operatively connected with said compensating ram for compensating the position of the same relative to said profile ram.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises:

a rotating shaft member rotatably mounted within said profile ram means and having a threaded portion which is threadably connected with said compensating ram means for moving said dressing tool by a desired distance toward said grinding wheel;

a compensating device fixedly mounted upon said profile ram means and operably connected with said rotating shaft member for compensating the position of said dressing tool.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said compensating device comprises:

a main body;

connecting means provided within said lastmentioned main body of said compensating device operably connected with said rotating shaft memher;

a worm wheel member integrally secured to said connecting means; and

drive shaft means rotatably journaled within said lastmentioned main body of said compensating device and provided with a worm member which is engaged with said worm wheel for rotating said rotating shaft member.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said actuating means comprises:

, a hydraulic cylinder provided within said main body;

a piston member slidably mounted within said hydraulic cylinder; and connecting rod means extending from said piston member and fixedly secured to said profile ram means at one end thereof so as to thereby move said profile ram means toward and away from said grinding wheel. 

1. A device for dressing a peripheral surface of a grinding wheel mounted upon a grinding machine, comprising: a supporting base; a feeding table slidably mounted upon said supporting base so as to be movable toward and away from said grinding wheel by means of a table feeding device; a template member fixedly mounted on said feeding table and having a profile face thereon; a traverse table slidably movable upon said feeding table by suitable drive means in a direction parallel to the axis of said grinding wheel; a main body fixedly mounted upon said traverse table; a compensating ram means slidably mounted within said main body and provided with a dressing tool for dressing the outer periphery of said grinding wheel; a profile ram means slidably disposed in tandem relationship to said compensating ram means within said main body; a stylus fixedly attached to one end of said profile ram for engageable co-operation with said template member; actuating means provided within said main body and integrally associated with said profile ram means for moving said profile ram means together with said compensating ram means toward said grinding wheel to thereby urge said stylus to contact said template member; and feeding means operatively connected with said compensating ram for compensating the position of the same relative to said profile ram.
 2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises: a rotating shaft member rotatably mounted within said profile ram means and having a threaded portion which is threadably connected with said compensating ram means for moving said dressing tool by a desired distance toward said grinding wheel; a compEnsating device fixedly mounted upon said profile ram means and operably connected with said rotating shaft member for compensating the position of said dressing tool.
 3. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said compensating device comprises: a main body; connecting means provided within said last-mentioned main body of said compensating device operably connected with said rotating shaft member; a worm wheel member integrally secured to said connecting means; and drive shaft means rotatably journaled within said last-mentioned main body of said compensating device and provided with a worm member which is engaged with said worm wheel for rotating said rotating shaft member.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said actuating means comprises: a hydraulic cylinder provided within said main body; a piston member slidably mounted within said hydraulic cylinder; and connecting rod means extending from said piston member and fixedly secured to said profile ram means at one end thereof so as to thereby move said profile ram means toward and away from said grinding wheel. 